Letter: Memphis mojo at its best

It was great to be on Beale Street last week for the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge (Feb. 4 article, "Blues Challenge 'exceeded all records' / Atlantan, Floridians win big"). On the street and at the finals for the competition you heard people say that Memphis is a magic city, Memphis is a historic music city and that they were thoroughly enjoying being in Memphis. These comments weren't politicians talking up the city or hometowners expressing civic pride, but rather musicians and visitors from other cities, states and foreign countries who were clearly enjoying themselves and happy to be on the street which is famous for the music they love.

I talked to blues fans from Milwaukee and Kansas City who had obviously been to the IBC before, as well as a man from Chile who just happened to be visiting and found the event. There were bands and performers from Canada, Kansas City, Rome, Philadelphia, the Mississippi Delta, Germany, New York and many other places including Memphis. The musical acts were all very good, and many were excellent, having won competitions at their local blues societies to qualify to compete at the IBC. The clubs on Beale were jumping. Memphis really felt like it was living up to its heritage as the home of the blues.